Bass Coast Health (BCH) is seeking people who have had a melanoma in the past two years to join a clinical trial, a unique opportunity for our region.
The trial involves Bass Coast residents and aims to improve surveillance for people at high risk of melanoma.
BCH, in partnership with Alfred Health, has established a public dermatology clinic to help the community access specialist dermatology services.
“The trial will allow high resolution full skin imaging to be undertaken locally and reduce the travel burden for people living in South Gippsland while providing access to state-of-the art technology,” trial site coordinator at BCH, Maree McFarlane said.
The IMAGE trial is coordinated by Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials (MASC Trials). It will compare Melanoma Surveillance Photography (MSP) to standard care (ie. monitoring without MSP) to determine which method results in fewer unnecessary biopsies in patients at high and ultra-high risk for melanoma.
To take part, participants must be diagnosed with a primary melanoma and have some or many moles. Participants will be randomly allocated to having either MSP or ‘standard’ clinical surveillance without MSP. They will continue surveillance with their usual doctor (dermatologist, GP or surgeon) over two years in the community and/or hospital setting, as appropriate.
Participants in the control group will be offered 3D imaging at the completion of the trial.
Regional sites such as Bass Coast Health are included in the trial to ensure a true representation of melanoma patients in the community and to provide regional residents with more equitable access to breakthroughs in medical care.
The IMAGE Trial is funded under the Medical Research Future Fund’s Targeted Health System and Community Organisation Research initiative, sponsored by Monash University, coordinated by MASC Trials, and approved by the Alfred Hospital Ethics Committee.
If you are interested in participating in the trial, email vmtrials@basscoasthealth.org.au